Top 10 Best Whiteboard Apps for Ideas and Brainstorming in 2023
Whiteboard applications can help your team come up with innovative ideas and collaborate more effectively. Technology has made great strides in the past decade, so look no further than our top 10 best whiteboard apps of 2023!
Whether you’re an educator, corporate employee or entrepreneur, these tools will streamline brainstorming and group collaboration in every way. With features such as mind-mapping capabilities, real-time editing options and online sharing platforms, teams can easily create visually compelling whiteboards that ensure everyone is on the same page. We’ve done extensive research to identify the best apps available for different types of teams and projects— read ahead to see which ones are perfect for your needs!
1. ClickUp
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform designed to help remote teams of any size collaborate together and centralize their work in a single place. With an intuitive UI and feature-rich experience, its digital whiteboarding tool lets you convert any shape on your board into an actionable task directly connected to your workflow.
Whether you're presenting, brainstorming, diagramming, or project planning, ClickUp Whiteboards offers real-time updates, collaborative editing, whiteboard templates, and an infinite canvas to act on your ideas the moment they happen. And since Whiteboards are built-in to your Workspace, teams can write notes, draw freehand, add shapes, and embed media that seamlessly connect to current projects—without having to rely on other apps for increased functionality.
Best Features
- Create Mind Maps to visualize the structure of your projects with ClickUp’s Whiteboards
- Use ClickUp’s Whiteboards to collaborate with your team and brainstorm
- Apply an existing template from ClickUp’s library of more than 1000 ready-to-use templates
Current Limitations
- Learning curve with customization features
Pricing
- Free Forever – Free
- Unlimited- $7/user/month
- Business- $12/user/month
- Enterprise- Contact for pricing
Get started with ClickUp for free, no credit card required
2. Miro
Miro is a digital whiteboard tool that's similar to Mural but with a greater focus on visual collaboration and remote team communication. It offers various templates, widgets, and integrations to help teams work together more effectively. Create intuitive flowcharts and simplify complex information with ease. Choose from Miro’s library of flowchart templates according to your purpose or need. Miro can be accessed from your browser, phone, or mobile device.
Best Features
- Wide variety of templates and widgets
- Real-time team collaboration
- Integration with third-party tools like Slack and Trello
Limitations
- Expensive compared to other tools on this list
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Limited customization options for templates
Pricing
- Free for individual users
- Team: Starts $8 per member/month
- Business: Starts at $16 per member/month
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
3. Stormboard
Stormboard is a digital collaboration and whiteboard application that allows users to create virtual sticky notes and collaborate with others in real time. Users can add comments on sticky notes, make changes to the board, and chat with each other to foster collaborative workspaces.
Stormboard offers a range of templates and frameworks to help teams get started quickly. These include business model canvas, project management, and retrospective templates. The tool also provides reporting and analytics tools to help teams track progress and performance.
Best Features
- Whiteboard sticky notes to sketch out ideas and brainstorm concepts
- Save time with automated template creation that is relevant and aligned to your business goals
- StormAI helps you work faster by providing real-time assistance
Current Limitations
- Limited customization options in the free version
- Steep learning curve for some users
- Some features may be overwhelming for simple brainstorming sessions
Pricing
- Free trial available
- Paid plan starts at $10 per user per month
4. Mural
Mural is a digital workspace designed specifically for collaborative brainstorming and ideation. It offers a variety of features to support team collaboration and creativity. One of the key features of the app is its digital canvas, which offers a range of templates and tools for creating different types of visualizations.
Mural also features collaboration features, allowing team members to work together on the same board in real time. Mural’s collaborative functions allow users to add comments, vote on ideas, and communicate to share their thoughts and feedback. This works best for remote teams working on complex projects together. Its visualizations, collaboration tools, presentation mode, export options, and customization features make it a powerful tool for team productivity.
Best Features
- Digital whiteboards for brainstorming
- Collaboration tools such as comments and voting
- Integration with other productivity tools
Current Limitations
- Limited customization options in the free version
- Steep learning curve for some users
- Some features may be overwhelming for simple brainstorming sessions
Pricing
- Free trial available
- Paid plan starts at $12 per user per month
5. Visio
Visio is a Microsoft software for drawing different kinds of charts and diagrams. These include flowcharts, org charts, building plans, floor plans, data flow diagrams, process flow diagrams, business process modeling, swimlane diagrams, 3D maps, and many more. It’s a Microsoft product, sold as an addition to MS Office.
Best Features
- Create diagrams and maps with the tool’s templates, stencils, and shapes
- Share diagrams with other teammates for real-time review in the Visio web app or in Teams
- Use grids and smart guides to create and manage professional diagrams
Limitations
- Formatting large diagrams can be laggy and slow
- Auto-arrange features and functions may result into wrong diagram arrangement
Pricing
- Visio Standard, Visio Professional, and Visio Pro for Office 365.
- Visio 2016 pricing is $299.99 for Standard, $589.99 for Professional
- Pro for Office 365, either $13 per month (annual commitment) or $15.50 per month (month by month).
6. Microsoft Whiteboard
Microsoft Whiteboard is a whiteboard and collaboration tool built for teams to work together on projects. It is designed to facilitate the brainstorming process by providing a virtual whiteboard to sketch ideas, create diagrams, and share them with others. The app is free to use and can be accessed from the web or mobile devices.
One of the key features of Microsoft Whiteboard is its versatility. Users can add text, drawings, sticky notes, images, and more to their boards, making it easy to capture different types of information. Additionally, users can customize the colors, shapes, and styles of their boards to fit their needs. Microsoft Whiteboard offers collaboration features, allowing team members to collaborate on ideas and work on projects at the same time.
Best Features
- Real-time collaboration tools such as comments and voting
- Integration with other Microsoft Office tools
Current Limitations
- Limited customization options in the free version
- Steep learning curve for some users
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Office 365 plan at $5/user/month
7. Conceptboard
Conceptboard is a versatile whiteboard application that allows users to collaborate, brainstorm, and visualize ideas in real-time. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Conceptboard offers a seamless digital whiteboarding experience. Users can create and share virtual whiteboards, where they can draw, write, and add sticky notes. The application also supports multimedia integration, enabling users to add images, videos, and documents to their boards. In addition, Conceptboard facilitates team collaboration through features like real-time editing, commenting, and task assignment.
Best Features
- Provides an unlimited virtual canvas, allowing users to expand their ideas without constraints
- Upload and integrate various types of content, such as images, videos, and documents
- Leave comments and add sticky notes to provide feedback, suggestions, or additional information
Current Limitations
- Limited objects per board
- Does not offer a calendar feature
Pricing
- Free version available
- Premium: $6/user per month
- Business: $9.50/user per month
8. Lucidspark
Lucidspark is a collaborative online canvas for brainstorming, idea generation, and project planning. It offers various templates, shapes, and diagrams to help teams visualize their ideas and turn them into actionable plans. Mural also provides these features, but Lucidspark's interface is designed to be more user-friendly and intuitive, which can make team collaboration more productive.
Lucidspark integrates with Lucidchart products, such as Lucidpress, which allows users to easily collaborate on more complex projects. This gives Lucidspark an advantage over Mural, which does not offer any additional tools or integrations.
Best Features
- Real-time collaboration with teams
- Pre-built templates and visual aids
- Integration with other Lucidchart products
Limitations
- Limited customization options for templates and diagrams
- Not as feature-rich as other tools on this list
- No mobile app available
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Individual: Starts at $7.95/user/month
- Team: Starts at $9/user/month
- Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
9. Xmind
XMind is a powerful brainstorming and mind-mapping tool that helps teams generate ideas and organize them into actionable plans. It offers a wide range of features for thinking, creative ideas, structuring thoughts, and connecting related ideas. XMind uses a redesigned engine to deliver faster and more efficient performance for a seamless user experience.
Make a mind map with a proper color scheme and style that matches your need.XMind's Smart Color Theme allows you to choose the color you like and achieve a consistent look throughout your map instantly. Spend less time making a terrific mind map with the app’ssmart algorithm. XMind uses algorithms to choose the best color for every detail of your mind map.
Best Features
- Multiple mind map formats (including fishbone diagram)
- Variety of brainstorming features such as brainstorming mode and mind map editor
- Collaboration tools such as comments and voting
- Integration with other productivity tools
Limitations
- Steep learning curve for some users
- No free version
Pricing
- Single user plan starts at $149 per user per year
- Team plan starts at $99 per user per year
10. Sketchboard
Sketchboard is a visual collaboration tool that allows remote teams to work together on user flows, wireframes, and diagrams in real-time. It offers various drawing tools, shapes, and templates to help teams visualize their ideas. One of Sketchboard’s best features includes version control which allows teams to easily roll back to previous versions of a design or project. This feature can help teams avoid mistakes and stay organized when working on complex projects.
Best Features
- Integration with third-party tools like Slack and Trello
- Collaboration with unlimited guests
- Real-time team collaboration
Current Limitations
- No mobile app available
- Steep learning curve for new users
Pricing
- Solo: Starts at $8/user per month
- Team: Starts $7/user per month
- Business: Starts $9/user per month
- Volume: Tiered pricing
Benefits of Using Whiteboard Applications
Whiteboard applications have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. They offer a range of benefits that make them a valuable tool for various purposes. Here are some of the key benefits of using whiteboard applications:
Collaboration: Whiteboard applications allow multiple users to collaborate in real-time, regardless of their physical location. These tools are also great for improving communication during remote or online meetings. With a whiteboard application, you can draw diagrams, sketch out plans, and create visual representations of complex information.
Flexibility: Unlike traditional whiteboards, whiteboard applications offer more flexibility. You can easily resize and rearrange elements, change colors and styles, and undo or redo actions. This allows for greater experimentation and refinement of ideas.
Accessibility: With whiteboard applications, you can access your work from any device with an internet connection. This means you can collaborate on projects from anywhere, at any time, making it ideal for remote teams and flexible work arrangements.
Record and Playback: Many whiteboard applications allow you to record and play your sessions later. This is especially useful for training purposes or when you need to review discussions and decisions made during a meeting.
Enhanced Creativity: The digital nature of whiteboard applications allows for more creativity and innovation. You can use a wide range of tools, colors, and effects to bring your ideas to life, fostering a more engaging and dynamic collaboration experience.
Whiteboard Apps and Brainstorming Tools from ClickUp
Whiteboard applications offer numerous benefits that enhance collaboration, communication, and creativity. Whether you're working on a team project, conducting a virtual meeting, or teaching a class, using a whiteboard application can greatly improve your productivity and effectiveness. ClickUp’s Whiteboard feature is a flexible solution for all teams of all sizes and industries. Sign-up for a free ClickUp account to get access to Whiteboards today!
